Automatic stoker.



R. S. RILEY.

AUTOMATIC STOKER.

APPLICATION FILED .IULY 24.1911.

Patented Jan. 28,1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET I.

- INVE KM SW A TTORNEYS WITNESSES; 621d $.M

R. S. RILEY.

AUTOMATIC STOKER'.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24.1917.

1,292,649. Patented Jan. 28,1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES: 1 IN V EN 1M a 1,74 SWROYLLR A TTOR NE YS R. S. RILEY.

AUTOMATIC STOKER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24,1917.

1,292,649. Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

R. s. RILEY; AUTOMATIC stoma.

APPLICATION HLED JULY 24. I917.

Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

R. S. RILEY.

AUTOMATIC STOKER.

APPLICATION FI'LED JULY 24.19n.

Patented J an. 28, 1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

RI Sn AUTOMATIC STOKER.

APPLICATIQN FILED. JULY 24, 19] 7- Patented Jan. 28,1919.

6 $HEET$-$HEET 6 III ll UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

noBEnTsANrom) RILEY, or woncEsTEn, MAsSAcHUsETTS,,Ass 1eNoa To smronn- RILEY SToxEn. co., LTn.,. or woncnsrnn, MASSACHUSETTS, A conromrron' or MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMATIC s'roxnn.

1 Application filed 111$ 24, 1917. serial No. 182,545.

m prior Patent No. 1,090,651 and for the f To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that. I, ROBERT SANFORD RILEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of'Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic'Stokers, of whi 'ch the following is a specification. I v

The resent invention relates to furnaces especially 'adaptedfor steam boilers, of the type in which fuel is automatically fed and is continuously. propelled, while burning, from the admission point to a discharge point at which the incombustible residue of refuse is discharged to an ash tpit More particularly the-invention is pre erably applied to. a Stoker of the underfeed type, which is distinguished by a construction and arrangement of means comprising one or a plurality of fuel channels or retorts into which the green fuel is admitted, and air discharging or supplying members arranged to deliver air for the support of combustion above the incoming green fuel, in a zone through which such fuel mustpass before reaching the fuel bed and becoming'fully ignited. f

The object of the invention is primarily to provide additional grate area on which the fuel is burned after it emerges from the retorts. This additional grate area is provided at each side of each retort of the furnace; and it allows the coked and partly burned fuel to be pushed out from the retorts more rapidly than is possible with furnaces of the types heretofore constructed, and then to be, burned more ra idly by reason of the additional quantity 0 air supplied through the more extended grate area; thus developing more heat and increasing the power o'f the boiler under which the furnace is placed.

In the present specification I have shown and described the application of the invention to an underfeed stoker or furnace of the-typein which parallel bars arranged in pairs on a downward and rearward slant, spaced apart and carrying perforated grate blocks or equivalent air emission members, define the retorts, injconnection with bottom plates between the bars of each pair, and in which the grate blocks extend laterally away.

from the retorts over a space or spaces wherein air under pressure 1s confined, substantially in the manner fully set'forth in purpose of illustration, but not of-indicating any'limitation'in the S00 e or use of-thein+z vention, have depicted 1n the drawings I a furnace having three retorts. i The novel Patented Jan. 2.8, 1919. I

features ofthe invention are herein shown'as embodied in additional bars parallel'with the of each'retort. Grate blocks are mounted in retort side bars betwen adjacent retorts. and: at the outer sides of .the'outermost retorts;

said additional bars in a manner such as to form grate connections in continuation of the fuel supporting surfaces or grate sections made by the gratev blocks' which are.

mounted on the retort side bars. Three forms or modifications of the invention are illustrated; in one of which the retort sidesare moved back and forth to propel the fuel from admission points at the forward end of the furnace to a discharge point at the rear, while the additional grate sections are stationary in order to .disinte ate the burn in fuel; in the secondof w ich the retort Si es are stationary and the additional grate sections are movable back and forth, for" the same purpose; and in the third of which are all movable.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a stoker illustrating the first modification above described ,on line 1-1 of Figs. 2-and 3. I

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the stoker, one of the retorts'being shown in Section on line 22 of Fig '1.

the retort sides and additional grate sections Fig. 3 is a cross section of two of the retorts and the intermediate stationary grate element on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of the second modification described on line 4-4 of Figs. 5. and 6. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the'same in section on line 5-'-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a cross section on line 6-6 of Fig. 4. f a

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 4 pa y I will first describe the particular constructions here shown and then point out the principles, use, and advantage of the inven- In general the stoker as shown 1n tion. Figs. 1,.2, and 3-is the same as in my patent above referred to except that the distance between centers of the retorts has been increased to provide room for the stationary auxiliary grate elements, and other parts of it correspondingly widened. @The retort side bars 11, grate blocks 13 or air emission members, carried thereby, stationary retort bottoms 1 1, overfeed or extension grate blocks 15, 16 and pushers 17 connected to the side bars 11 at the rear of the furnace, refuse supporting dump plates 18 and the rack bars 19 for supporting the same, means for withdrawing said rack bars; and means for feeding fuel into the furnace and propelling it therethrough, consisting'of the rams or pushers 20 driven in line with the retorts in guides 21 by a crank shaft 22-and connecting rods 23, are all the same as shown in my patent above named. So'also are the hopper 24 for guiding fuel into the guideways 21, and the means for transmitting motion from the plunger to the movable retort walls, which consist of pins 25' extending from the pusher and 'engageable with abutments 26 and 27 on bars 28 which are connected with the respective side walls. By this means each side bar of each retort is moved back and forth, and the extent of its movement may be varied by placing a greater or less number of filler pieces 29 on a part of the bar 28 of reduced diameter between the abutment-27 and the pin 25.

The fuel is fed into-the furnace by the rams or pushers 20, is advanced through the furnace from the admission point to the discharge point 30 by the action of the side walls, and is caused to emerge from the re torts and to spread over the lateral grate blocks or air emission members 13 partly by the rams and partly by the action of the moving retort sides, which extend on a downward inclination toward the rear, In

.this specification the retort sides are considered to be composed in part of the side bars 11 and in part of the grate blocks 13 which are mounted on and carried by said bars.

These grate blocks are preferably construct- 'ed substantially as shown in my Patent No.

1,090,651, and have openings arranged to discharge-air, which is forced under pressure into the space beneaththe furnace and flows to the grate blocks through the spaces between adjacent retorts, issuing from said blocks both laterally across retorts and rearwardly. These blocks are also provided with ribs, as shown, which support the fuel and provide intermediate channels through which the'air may flow. The overfeed or extension grate blocks 15 and 16 and the pushers 17 are below the level of the retort bottoms14 and are of such width that they cross the space of each retort between the side walls thereof as shown in Fig. 2, wherethe rear ends of the retorts flows over the same and is supplied with air .to support its to the discharge opening 30 between the rear end of the horizontal part of said support I and the adjacent wall 31 of the furnace.

The additional or supplemental grates or grate sections between adjacent retorts, and between the outer retorts and the stationaryv .side walls of the furnace inclosure, which in this embodiment of the invention are stationary, are preferably composed each of a'series of grate blocks 32 (see Fig. 3) substantially like the grate blocks 13, which are supported upon. a bar or beam 33 substantially like the side bars 11 of the retorts, arranged parallel thereto and mounted in substantially the same way, except that it -is stationary. One of these stationary bars is shown in side elevation in Fig. 1, and two of them are shown partly in section in Fig. 2. Their forward ends are provided with flanges 34: which are bolted to flanges 35 on the pusher guides 21. The grate blocks 32 have webs 36 which rest on the upper edge of the bar 33 and are provided with lips 37 through which bolts 38 pass to secure them to the bar,ithe latter having flanges 39 at its lower edge with which said bolts are engaged. Laterally projecting brackby thefuel which passes-horizontally out of ets 40 are provided at intervals on the bar and these brackets support the side webs of certain of the grate blocks so as to prevent said blocks from tilting, Theseblocks are so formed as to overlap. one another in series and thus the blocks which are supported against tilting .by the bracketssimilarly support other blocks which are not engaged with brackets. These blocks 32 have ribs and intermediate channelswhich respectively support fuel and permit air to flow .from the a1r space beneath the furnace into the fuel thus supported. For illustration in greater detail ofthe preferred construction of the grate blocks 32, aswell as of. the- I grate blocks 13, attentionis directed to my prior Patent No. 1,090,651, wherein corresponding blocks are illustrated. The blocks 13 here shown are substantially like the blocks illustrated in said patent, while the only material difference in the blocks 32 is that they need not be provided with lateral openings such as are provided in the blocks 13, and in those shown in my patent afore'i said, which discharge air into or across. the

retorts. It is to be understood, however, that I do supplemental not restrict the invention to any precise character of grate and that the grate blocks which I have shown are merely illustrative of-this part of the'invention, and'are also the form of grate which I prefer to use. Any other construction of grate which is capable ofbeing applied, with or without modification, for the purposeof the additional grates heretoforede'scribed may how- .everbe used as well as. the specific grates here shown.

In the, second modification shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 the sidebars 11 of the several retorts are stationary, being provided with flanges 41 on their forward ends'which are.

secured by bolts'42 to the usher guides 21, in the manner similar to t at in which the bars 33 supporting the grate blocks of the at'esections are fixed in the modification rst described. The supplemental grate sections, however, are movable back: and forth horizontally, and for-that purpose each-of the bars 33 is secured at its forward end to a slide 43 which passes through .a guide 44 on the forwardend of the furnace structure and is joined by a wrist pin 45 to a rod 46 extending from an' eccentric strap 47 which surrounds an eccentric 48 on-the drive shaft 22. Preferably provision is made fon varying and iegu lating the extent of motion 'ven to the bars 33. Any means suitable or this purpose may be used, and I have shown for 85: lost motion regulating means previously deto the filler pieces 29, which are adapt nectin the purpose of illustration one such means whichyis essentially-simllar to the variable scribed in connection with the movable side walls of the modification first described. Such means comprises a fork 49 011 the conrod 46 which embraces the end of the sli e43 and carries the wrist pin 45,, the latter extendin through a slot 50 in that part of the sli e which is embraced by thefork and having-lost motion therein. A shoulder 51 is provided on the slide as an abutment for filler pieces 52, similar ed to' be placed over the slide 43 between said shoulder and the fork. Connection between the grate supporting bar 33 and the slide 43 is made by a bolt 53 passing through the rear end of the slide (and also through an eye-54 secured to the forward end of the bar. All of the movable supplemental grate supporting bars and their operating means'in the entire furnace are alike and the foregoing description applies to them all.

The third modification shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9 combines the elements of the two forms or modifications already described;' having movable retort sides and means for reciprocating them as shown inFigs, I, 2, and 3, and also havin movable supplemental grate sections an means for reciproeating the same as shownin Figs. 5, 6,

.of on one line, as in my and 7. It is a part of my inventionas embodied. in the third form to. arrange the driving means for the retort walls and the supplemental grate sections in a manner such that the adjacent grate sections move otherwise than in exact unison; that is, either oppositely to .one another or in such wise that one of such sections moves either faster or slower than the adjacent section. The term grate section here usedv includes both the grates .which border the retorts and the supplemental or additional grates.

Each of these grate sections is anarrow strip or zone of the entire I ate area running from front -to .rear.

his definition is true .as to each' one of the forms, modi-- ficatlons, or embodiments of the invention descrlbed, and in each form there is a relative movement between the sections which adjoin and define the retorts and the sec.

tions adjacent thereto. a

With the foregoing detailed-explanation, in mind, it will be understood that the rela-.

tive reciprocation or vibration between the retort sides, with the grate section's supported -thereby, and the supplementary grate sections causes a shearing or separation between the-bodies of fuel supported respectively by the several grate sections. Thatis, between adjacent retorts the fuel is .divided or agitated in the operation of the stoker on two shearing lines instead previous types of stoker. The relative motion between these bodies of fuel causes the masses of fuel to be broken up and prevents the fuel from fuel bed which exte'nd'over the retorts canv not be so well and completely supplied with air astare those portions of the bed which rest on grates. -Thusan increase in the "ratio of grate area to retort area causes 1ncreased efliciency 1n; the combustion of fuel, enabling the fuel to be more rapidly burned with generation of more heat, and

with more completecombustion 'of the fuel.

The additional grate area between and-beside the retorts ,makes it possible to feed fuel into the furnace 'morerapidly than heretofore and permits the'partly burned fuel to be expelled from'the'retorts and spread out over the supportin "grates. more .rapidly. the fuel in the retorts and combustion of the volatile elements of the fuel take place At. the same time t e coking of a pressed against toward the. discharge point as it becomes.

consumed. Thus the stationary grate sections do not accumulate a stationary body of burned-out fuel refuse, but are constantly supplied with fresh ignited filel which is constantly fed along as it becomes consumed. Preferably the grate blocks, earned by the retort side bars, are mounted with some freedom for lateral movement whereby they. are

the supplemental grate blocks by the pressure of fuel in the retorts and thus sifting'of the fuel between the ad- 1' acent sets of grate blocks is prevented. Sifting of fuel between the stationary retort bottoms and the movin side bars ofthe retorts may be prevented iy means substantially the same as shown in my pending application Serial No. 638,282, filed May 13, 1914, while sifting through the grates themselves is prevented by the construction of the grate blocks, which have transverse webs overlying all openings to the air space or spaces beneath, as set forth in my Iatent No. 1,090,651.

The invention which I claim herein comprises the combination with an underfeed stoker, comprising one ormore retorts having means for causing underfeed combustion, and fuel supportin grate sections at each side of the retort, 0 additional or supplemental grate sections adjoining the other grate sections, and means for causing a relative movement between said sections in such manner as to propel and also to shear and disintegrate the fuel. The invention is the same whether embodied in a furnace having only one retort or in a furnace having a plurality or multiplicity of retorts; and it is.

also the same invention whether the relative movement between ad acent grate sections is accomplishedin either of the three ways hereinbefore described, or otherwise, and by whatever means or mechanism. Except'as last stated, and as stated in the claims, I do not limit the invention; and in particular I would say that the-reference ,to my prior patent is not intended, nor is it to be understood, as a restriction of this invention to a furnace or stoker specifically like the one shown'in said patent, but as said stoker is the one to which I prefer to apply this invention, the patent has been referred: to in amplification of the description of the particular embodiments of the invention herein shown.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A furnacecomprisin a'fuel feeding retort with grate sections anking and defining the mouth of said retort, means for introducing fuel into one.end of the retort, the furnace having an outlet for discharge of refuse beyond the retort, supplemental grate sections on the outer sides of the first namedsections, and means for moving certain of said sections in such manner back and forth across, the plane of the grate as to propel the fuel toward said outlet, with relative motion between contiguous sections.

2. A furnace comprisin a fuel feeding retort with grate sections anking and defining the mouth of said retort, means for introducing fuel into one end'of the retort,.

the furnace having an outlet for discharge of refuse beyond the retort, supplemental grate sections on the outer sides of the first named sections all of said grate sections being inclined and extending from a level above the fuel admission point to a level below the retort bottom at their ends which are nearest to said outlet, and means for moving certain of said sections in suchmanner back and forth across the plane of the grate as to propel the fuel toward said outlet, with relative motion between contiguous sections.

3. A furnace comprising a fuel feeding retort with grate sections flanking and defining the mouth of said retort, means for introducing fuel into oone end of the retort, the furnace having an outlet for discharge of refuse beyond the retort, supplemental grate sections on the outer sides of the first named sections, and means for moving certain of said sections back and forth toward and away from said outlet in such manner backvand forth across the plane of the grate as to propel the fuel toward said outlet, with relative motion between contiguous sections.

frA furnace comprising a fuel feeding retort with grate'sec'tions flanking and defining the mouth of said retort, means for introducing fuel into one end ofthe retort, the furnace having an outlet for discharge of refuse beyond the retort, supplemental grate sections on the outer sides of the first named sections, all of said grate sectionsare nearest to said outlet, and means for moving certain of said sections back and forth toward and away from said outlet in such manner back and forth across the plane of the grate as to propel the fuel toward said outlet, with relative motion between, contiguous sect ons.

5. A furnace comprising a fuel feeding retort with grate sections flanking and defining the mouth of said retort, means for introducing fuel into one end of the retort, the furnace having an outlet for discharge of refuse beyond the retort, supplemental grate sections on'the outer sides of the first named sections, said sections being all constructed .to transmit air to the superposed fuel and prevent passage of the fuel through and between them to the space beneath, and means for moving certain of said sections in such manner back and forth across. the plane of the grate as to propel the fuel toward saidoutlet, with relative motion between contiguous sections.

6. An underfeed furnace comprising a plurality of inclined grate sections arranged in pairs, each pair "bounding and including a fuel retort and extending across theplane of the retort bottoms, supplemental grate sections between the said pairs of grate sections, means for injecting fuel into said retorts from beneath the highest part of said grate sections and expelling the fuel from the retorts and over upon said grate sections, an outlet for refuse in rear of the lower ends of the grate sections, and means for moving certain of said sections endwise toward and away from the outlet with relative motion between adjacent sections, to feed fuel and shear the fuelbed.

7. An underfeed furnace comprising a plurality of inclined grate sections arranged in pairs, each pair bounding and including a fuel retort and extending across the plane of the retort bottoms, supplemental grate sections between the said pairs of grate sections, means for injecting fuel into said retorts from beneath the highest part of said grate sections and expelling thefuel from the retorts and over upon said grate sections, an outletfor refuse in rear of the lower ends of the grate sections, and means for moving certain of said sections endwise toward and away from the outlet with relative motion between adjacent sections, to feed fuel and shear the fuel bed, other sections being held stationary and being of such narrow width that the fuel upon them is ,moved in the feeding direction 'by the fuel carried in the same direction by the moving sections.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

ROBERT SANFORD RILEY. 

